Self-leveling berth



(No Model.)

A. M. CROSBY.

SELF LEVELING BERTH. 10.252,079. Patented' Jan. 10.18182? u);

M7/enter:-

rg. PETERS Phomuthagmpher. washington. D. C.

' To all whom ibmay concern UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ARTHUR M. oaOsBY, or BOSTON, MAssAoaUsErrs.

SELF-LEVELING BERTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent' No. 252,079, datedvJanuary 10, 1882.

Application tiled June 17, 1881. (No model.) V

VBe it known'that I, ARTHUR M. CROSBY, of Boston, iu the `county of Suffolk 'and State of Massach usetts,`have invented certain Improvements in Self-Leveling Berths, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates'to self-leveling berths or other structures for ships, and it has for its object to provide such a berth which shall occupy the minimum of space, and which shall combine simplicity ot' construction and economy in cost. Y

To this end my invention consists in a selfleveling berth suspended by four oblique rods or rigid hangers arranged in pairs, the rods of each pair extending diagonally from a single point in the center ot' one end of the berth, and

pivoted independently to points of support beyond the transverse axial line and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axial line'of the berth, as I will now proceed to describe and claim.

0f the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l represents a side elevation of a selfleveling berth embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents an end view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a top plan view, showing the arrangement of the hangers.

The same letters relate to the same parts in all the gures.

In the drawings, A represents a berth, which may be of any desired size and construct-ion.

It h h h represent rigid hangers, preferably wrought-iron rods,fby which the berth A is suspended from the ceiling ot' the cabin or other xed overhead support, c. The hangers h h h h are arran 0`ed in )airs each air bein a l 7 pivoted to a single point, a,fin the center of one end of the berth, the rods composing each pair diverging diagonally therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3,' and extending obliquely to points of support e beyond the transverseaxis of the berth, as shown in Fig. l, the extremities of said rods being pivoted to said points of, support. I prefer to make the distance between the points of support c of one pair of hangers (in Jthis instance the hangers-h h) about equal to the width of the berth, and to place the points of support of the other pair of hangers somewhat nearer thelongitudinal axial line of the berth, soas to avoid all danger of friction or chating of the hangers upon each other during the movements of the'ship; butin all cases the points c of each pair ofhaugers are placed upon opposite sides of the longitudinal axial seen, `the points cotone pair ot' rods are upon.

the opposite side of the transverse axial line Y*from the points c of the other pair.

By the described mode of suspending the .berth the ei'ect of double-crossed hangers is secured, and the hangers being rigid,| the tendency to .rotate or swing in either direction is counteracted and a rocking movement imparted to the berth irrespective of the motion ot the ship. The berth is therefore adapted to occupythe minimum of space Without danger ot' swinging so far as to touch the Wall upon either side during the pitching of tlhc vessel, and the Weight of theberth and its occupant being entirely below the points of suspension, no springs are required to be interposed between the berth and the wall or door to counteract the quick oscillation which would otherwise result from the vessels movement.

In operation, during the fore-and-aft motion of the vessel, when the stern rises, the rigid hangers on the opposite end of the berth' tend in one direction, while the rods h h' on theV other side tend to pull the berth in the same direction, thus compensating the rolling mo-f tion, and the hangers being freely movable upon their pivots, the berth is maintained in a level position at all times. The elasticity of 9o the hangers-when arranged as described prevents any shock result-ing from the movements of the vessel and partially compensates any vertical movement imparted to the berth.

Thehangers may be used as an aid in enter ing the berth, and said hangers may be bent to avoid a projecting knee or other obstruction without interfering with the operation of the berth.

It will be seen that my improved berth is extremely simple in construction, and requires no expensive adjuncts either above, below, or around the same. It may therefore be easily IOO and cheaplyput in place or removed therefrom when desired, and economically maintained in workin g order.

s s represent bolts arranged on the back side of the berth, and adapted to engage with oriices in the Walls or partitions at the ends to lock the berth and prevent its swinging motion whenever desirable-as, for instance,when a person is getting into or out of the berth. The bolts are operated by alever, l, pivoted at v to the side ot' the berth, the bolts being pivoted to the lever at w w. The lever is'provided with a handle projecting above the berth, and is held to secure the bolts, when the berth is looked, by a ratchet, 11,011 the side of the berth, the lever being engaged with either of the teeth of the ratchet by its own elasticity, causing it to spring inwardly against the ratchet-teeth. It will v be seen that the bolts are adapted Vto prevent any horizontal or vertical independent movement of the berth.

' It is obvious the described mode of hanging oted independently to points ofsupport beyond the transverse axis and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis ot' the berth, as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speoieation, in the presence of' two subseribing Witnesses, this 14th day vof June, A. D. Y1881.

ARTHUR M. CRGSBY.

fitnessesz MATTHEW CROSBY, C. F. BROWN. 

